Proposition K - Affordable Housing Authorization

Summary

Article 34 of the State Constitution provides that a low rent housing project(s) shall not be developed, constructed, or acquired by any public body without approval by voters in the jurisdiction the project(s) will be located. The proposed ordinance would provide Article 34 authorization for 10,000 affordable housing units, specifying that City government will have the authorization to own, develop, construct, acquire, or rehabilitate these units. The proposal further authorizes the City to take any actions necessary to implement the ordinance subject to applicable laws.

A "YES" vote on Proposition K is a vote to permit the City of San Francisco to own, develop, construct, acquire, or rehabilitate 10,000 affordable housing units under Article 34 of the California State Constitution.

A "NO" vote on Proposition K is a vote to prevent the City of San Francisco from owning, developing, constructing, acquiring, or rehabilitating 10,000 affordable housing units under Article 34 of the California State Constitution.

Arguments

"Article 34 of the California Constitution is a racist stain in our state's history, narrowly passed in 1950 with the backing of segregationists to block affordable housing and exclude Black tenants. It still stands today. Prop K is a step towards removing this racist legacy and authorizing the creation of up to 10,000 additional units of permanently afforable housing in San Francisco. There is no cost to taxpayers for authorizing these new homes.", in support of Proposition K (Learn more)

"K also authorizes an innovative form of affordable housing called municipal social housing. This is an internationally proven solution -- in Vienna, Austria, 62% of households live in some form of social housing, where most tenants spend no more than 20-25% of their income on rent. Authorizing municipal social housing will aid our efforts to make San Francisco more affordable and reduce homelessness.", in support of Proposition K (Learn more)

"As the years went by, politicians added taxes, and rules. Particularly zoning regulations, to satisfy NIMBYs who already had homes and didn't want anything else built near them, especially not for poor people. Eventually, hardly any new housing was getting built. What did get built was super expensive. Let's break the cycle. Vote NO on Prop K.", in opposition to Proposition K (Learn more)

"Proponents disingenuously claim there's 'no cost to taxpayers' to 'authorize' 10,000 homes, ignoring that to actually build and maintain them could cost billions.", in opposition to Proposition K (Learn more)

Measure Details